Part III

                           SAN MIGUEL, LEYTE
     
     during the spanish regine and in the early part of the
  American regine the town of san miguel was along the Sapiniton
  river. the place was called "Luntad". from Luntad, it was
  moved to the place where it is situated at present.
       Romualdo Aguirre was a resident of san miguel, Leyte. He
  has advantage over his male friends of the town for he was strong
 brave, couragious, and ambitious, born 1880 in the town of
 San Miguel, Leyte.
     
     With the compliance stated in the Schurman commission
  sent to the Philippines, every town has to organized its own
 officers of the municipality. The officers include  the Gobernadorcillo
 (mayor) Capitan, four council men, a treasurer and a secretary.
 On constable officer is assigned in every town council.

       Romualdo Aguirre was appointed as a council man.
 The capitan was Lorenzo Babula, a native of san miguel.
      The Presiding officer, Lorenzo Babula called for a session.
 The principal agenda was about the precautionary measures, regarding
 peace and order under the american regime. On motion of
 councilor Romualdo Aguirre, a big church bell will be purchased.
 the church bell even during the spanish regime, and during remolution
 was as a signal to the people that an ususual happening is going on . To be alarmed
 espaecially of the subversive
 gorup the pulahan would interfere the affairs in the government
   
     The treasury of the town lacked a big amount of money
 for the purchase of the bell. Councilor Aguirre Voluntered to
 strip abaca, together with them a month for thier provision. he believed
 that one month of stripping of abaca can produce bunches of
 hemp and would cover the amount needed.

    Despite of the bad weather, the strippers of the abaca
 worked hard. They make some make some make-shift huts for shelter, and
 one make-shift hut for placing the hemp. One of the fifteen men
 was incharge in preparing thier food. Aguirre led the men at work.

       early one foggy morning in the lonely place in Nabulkasan
 the workers started thier work earlier, because they will have to
 finished thier work the following day . while they were eating
 their breakfast, the workers were surprised that three intruders
 in uniform arrived by surprised and arrested the councilor. He
 was brought before the constable officer for interrogation. The
 young councilor faced the problem bravely with innocence at his
 face. A traitorwitnessed againts him that one evening Agguirre
 led the Pulahan, a subversive group of men that raided the town'
 of san miguel. After days of detention , he was brought to Alang-alang
 leyte for further trial under constable Capitan Francisco
 astorga. After the series of investagation there was no single sign
that the councilor was guilty. Capitan Astorga sent aguirre
 some errands to the different sitios of alangangalang. the accused
 would return to capitan astorga with in a given time. He has no
 single idea to escape.
         After three weeks in alangalang under Capitan Astorga,
 he was acquitted for lack of evidence.
        One fine morning, Aguirre approached the Capitan in this
office . He told his plan to create a barrio, and he needed the
assistance of the capitan. The capitan give him instructions
and the personnel's in the office that are needed. According to
Aguirre he will never return to live in hs home town, san miguel
The officials of the town helped him, especially the secretary
to the alcalde was bearing the same family name of Romualdo.
He was able to file a resolution for creating a barrio on October 1903

    One day Romualdo was informed by the secretary, Pablo
Aguirre that governor Peter Borseth is scheduled for his travel
to alangalang on may 20, 1904. Since there was two days to prepare
, Romualdo came to garang and selected some men and women
who can speak well in spanish to meet the Governor, in case he
will grant his request to see the place. he also requested the
people to meet the Governor and assigned groups for food preparation
and a sortof program to be held in Garang. Romualdo
assinged leaders to each committee. The natives of Garang were
glad to hear the news, and everybody move to clean the sitio.
    the third civil Governor, Governor Peter Borseth and party
arrived at alangalang, Leyte at 8:00 o'clock A.M. on may
20, 1904. His party consisted of four Americans and Three filipinos.
They were met by the town folks and officers of the
town. As he was scanning every paper or records, he incedentally
glanced at a resolution for creating a barrion, at the
file, for approval. He took interest on that resolution and
beg one of the officers in the office to let Aguirre see him
The incedents that befell on the life of Aguirre was clearly
understood by the Governor through a Filipino who interpreted
every story told in details to the Governor. The governor
asked Aguirre if the place ( Garang ) is prepared to be converted
into a barrio. Aguirre positively answered. Governor with his
party and Aguirre with some officials of the town came to
Garang . In Garang they were met by the people assigned, and
almost all the residents gathered in a special place where the
people temporarily entertained the officers. Aguirre invited
all the strippers of the abaca in Garang and neigboring places
because it was through strippings of the abaca who had behind
a "bleesing in desguise" and resulted to the future of sitio
Garang . The people had their eating and dringking tuba and
merry-,making. Then for a while, Governor Peter Borseth
stood and the natives ware still to hear him say, "By the virtue
vested upon me as the third civil governor of the Philippines
I, governor Peter Borseth name this place Barrio borseth in
the name of our Lord on this 20th day of may , 1904".